Stung

All through the campaign, I've figured that if the horrible state of U.S. relations with the rest of the planet will be corrected by simply electing Barack, then perhaps the claimed crisis is not so big.

From Beijing's streets to France's Elysee Palace, common citizens and leaders of the world greeted Barack Obama's election largely as a sign of hope that America would mend torn international relations and lead the way out of global economic turmoil.

"I am so happy Obama won," said Mao Xiaoqing, 21, an economics student in Beijing. "I think he will take some creative actions about the economic crisis. It's the main problem for America and the rest of the world."

Now, it seems Barack has straightened everything out - and he's only President-elect!

French President Nicolas Sarkozy said Obama's election "has raised enormous hope in France, in Europe and beyond."

It turns out that the hatred was only skin deep. The world wanted a rock star, just as the American media did, and now that they've gotten one, all is well.

In Germany, where more than 200,000 people flocked to see Obama this summer as he burnished his foreign policy credentials during a trip to the Middle East and Europe, the election dominated television ticker crawls, newspaper headlines and websites.

Obama-mania was evident not only across Europe but also in much of the Islamic world, where Muslims expressed hope that the Democrat would seek compromise rather than confrontation.

Where does all this faith find its power?

"I have high expectations for Obama," said Yasuhiko Mizutani, a Japanese entrepreneur who owns a toy factory in southern China.

Mizutani said he hoped an Obama administration could salvage the sinking U.S. economy before it drags Asia into recession. "If something goes wrong with America, the Japanese economy will crash," he said.

If the Brits will just elect Sting, maybe we can keep this thing going.

Beautiful Music

Anybody can get thousands of college kids to show up for live music and a political speech. Try doing it with senior citizens. In the hot Florida sun! That's something only Sarah Palin can do.

The crowd endured hours in the sweltering heat for the sight of the dynamic newcomer to national politics. A new Miami Herald/St. Petersburg Times/Bay News 9 poll showed that 40 percent of voters who back McCain said Palin made them feel stronger about their choice.

In all the media jumping to conclusions about why Palin was McCain's selection, I didn't hear anyone suggest that the gal from Alaska could deliver the sunshine state.

But Palin drew thousands more than the estimated 20,000 people that turned out for Bush (in 2004). A fire rescue official estimated the crowd at 25,000 to 30,000, while the Republican Party of Florida pegged the audience at twice that size.

As the McCain campaign rations Palin to control her burn-time and the exuberance of two weeks ago fades, some have been questioning whether Palin was a wise choice.

''The South is Palin Country,'' read a banner trailing from a plane overhead. The Spanish moss-covered trees in the area made it feel more southern than South Florida.

But if Palin Power does nothing more than take Florida for the GOP, she'll have proven herself to be a brilliant pick.

Warm-up Act

The GOP has its ticket, one that has the competent, experienced, mature candidate on the top of the ticket, and the exciting newcomer in the learning position.

Mr McCain may be the Republican candidate for president, but on his big night in the spotlight he seemed, at times to be playing second fiddle to his running-mate.

With the inexperienced candidate on the top of the ticket, lacking in maturity and vetting, and the 35 year Washington veteran at the bottom, doesn't the Democratic ticket seem scrambled?

There were several moments when the crowd stood up and applauded loudly during the McCain speech, but at times they seemed to be rousing themselves rather than being roused. Applauding the ideas, rather than the language or the delivery.

McCain's speech was a sober event last night - without the passion and fire that Sarah Palin delivered the night before. But I, for one, feel much more confident having the rock star be the warm-up act.

Rock Star?

Is there a new rock star in town?

STURGIS, S.D. - Thousands of motorcyclists greeted Republican presidential candidate John McCain with an approving roar Monday as he sought blue-collar and heartland support by visiting a giant motorcycle rally.

"As you may know, not long ago a couple hundred thousand Berliners made a lot of noise for my opponent. I'll take the roar of 50,000 Harleys any day," McCain said, referring to Democrat Barack Obama's recent visit to the German capital.

Billed as the largest event of its kind in the world, the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally has become something of an annual bikers' Woodstock during the past 70 years. It features nine nights of entertainment, with bands including Def Leppard, Lynyrd Skynyrd and REO Speedwagon.

McCain played to a crowd that paused for a veterans salute. He criticized Obama for supporting a timetable for withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq while opposing efforts to reduce record-high energy prices.

"My opponent wants to set a date to come home. I want us to come home with victory and honor so we will never go back again," the Arizona senator said.

McCain also criticized Congress for adjourning for a five-week recess without approving a new energy plan.

Feeling Hollywood's Pain

The LA Times reports that Hollywood finds McCain's new ad, likening celebrity Barack to other famous people, like Britney Spears and Paris Hilton, aggravating.

Just for a start, industry types say the ad is wrong: In the Hollywood lexicon, Obama is not a celebrity. He's a rock star. (Note to McCain strategists: That's the difference between Jessica Simpson and Bono.)

Ah. Now we get it.

Then there's the small inconvenience that Paris' parents, Rick and Kathleen Hilton, are supporters of McCain's Republican presidential bid. According to federal campaign records, they gave the maximum $4,600.

That's equally powerful.

McCain's latest attempt at discrediting his handsome, photogenic young rival particularly galls stars and executives with a memory, because only eight years ago, McCain was a fixture in Hollywood fundraising circles when he tried to raise money from the very people his ad now ridicules.

How disturbing.

At the time, dozens of people in Hollywood -- including Lear, Harrison Ford, Quincy Jones, Berry Gordy and Michael Douglas -- gave to McCain because they thought he was a Republican celebrity ď with a great personal story. And, dare we say, some celebrities, namely Warren Beatty, even became friends with the Arizona senator.

A confession, it seems, that they don't support people for good reason, otherwise they'd still be supporting McCain, whose great personal story hasn't changed. They're apparently expecting loyalty from the old flavor of the day, who they've abandoned for their newest favorite.

But the truth is most of Hollywood won't return McCain's calls nowadays because many of the stars and executives he initially impressed now believe the maverick stance they found so attractive was just a pose. Hollywood doesn't object to a good pose -- unless, of course, it doesn't work.